In 1941, a woman named Mary Wiles stood waist-deep in a clear spring north of Orlando, brushing her hair as fish nibbled her ankles. Around her: pines, palmettos, and a kind of peace that had nothing to do with air conditioning. That spring, long known to the Timucua people and later used as a retreat for soldiers, would eventually become Wekiwa Springs State Park—a 7,000-acre portal into the part of Florida that stays cool, even when everything else is on fire.
Wekiwa (pronounced WEE-kī-va, though locals will accept Wekiva too—long story, both are right) is one of the oldest state parks in Florida, and one of the most quietly dazzling. It’s not loud or crowded or over-photographed. It doesn’t have roller coasters or record-breaking zip lines. What it does have is something better: a 72-degree spring that bubbles from the Earth, a vast wilderness where bears and bobcats still roam, and miles of trails and water so pure it feels filtered by memory.
Start at the main spring, a wide, bowl-shaped pool of liquid turquoise that’s been luring overheated Floridians for generations. It’s perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or just floating like a slice of toast in a blue teacup. The water emerges from a limestone vent 20 feet below the surface and spills over into Wekiwa Run, beginning its slow journey toward the Wekiva River and eventually the St. Johns.
The swim area is surrounded by a gently sloping grassy hill, shaded picnic tables, and the kind of old-school charm you’d expect from a place that predates airboats. There are no water slides, no arcade games. Just trees, birds, and people whispering “Wow” every time they stick a toe in.
But Wekiwa Springs isn’t just about soaking—it’s about paddling. Rent a canoe or kayak and launch into Wekiwa Run, a narrow, winding ribbon of water shaded by cypress knees and sabal palms. Within minutes, you’re deep in the wild. Turtles plop from logs. Anhingas dry their wings like soggy librarians. If you’re lucky (and quiet), you’ll spot a river otter slinking through the reeds or a manatee drifting like a ghost in slow motion.
And then there’s the stillness—startling, cinematic, sacred. You could be 10 minutes from a Publix and you’d never know it.
On land, the park offers more than 13 miles of hiking and biking trails, ranging from shady loops perfect for families to backcountry trails that require a compass, bug spray, and a healthy respect for sand. The White Trail is a great intro, cutting through pine flatwoods, sandhills, and patches of saw palmetto so thick they look like something out of Jurassic Park.
The park is also a known spot for Florida black bear sightings, though your odds are better early in the morning or during berry season. Other residents include gopher tortoises, barred owls, armadillos, and about 500 billion mosquitoes—so pack accordingly.
History buffs should stop at the Wekiwa Springhouse Ruins, near the main swimming area. Once part of a 19th-century hotel and bottling operation, the stone remains are mossy, quiet, and vaguely mysterious. Rumor has it that soldiers used to come here for rest and rehab, soaking their feet and writing long letters home.
Hungry? The park’s concession stand sells cold drinks and decent burgers, but for a proper meal, head into Apopka. Try Back Room Steakhouse for upscale cuts in a low-key setting, or Catfish Place in nearby St. Cloud for fried swamp delicacies that could make a Cajun weep. For lunch, Propagate Social House offers avocado toast, smoothies, and enough greenery to make your Instagram feed feel like a greenhouse.
Looking for breakfast the next day? Mary’s Kountry Kitchen, just minutes from the park entrance, serves big plates, strong coffee, and the kind of biscuits that come with gravity.
For overnight stays, you’ve got choices. The park has 60 spacious campsites, all with water and electric hookups, and enough privacy that you won’t hear your neighbor’s Bluetooth speaker. There are also primitive sites for the hammock-and-headlamp crowd. If you prefer something a little softer, look into The Edgewater Hotel in nearby Winter Garden—a historic B&B with charm, comfort, and complimentary bicycles for exploring brick-lined streets.
A few numbers to carry with you:
• The spring discharges 42 million gallons a day—enough to supply a medium-sized city with drinking water.
• The park covers over 7,000 acres, much of it pristine and protected.
• The Wekiva River system is one of only two National Wild & Scenic Rivers in Florida.
• Wekiwa Springs was designated a state park in 1970, but the spring has been in human use for at least 4,000 years.
Want to blend in with the locals? Visit on a weekday morning, just after the gates open at 8:00 AM. That’s when the light is soft, the air smells like pine needles, and the water is so still it reflects the treetops perfectly. Bring a thermos. Sit on the hill. Watch the world begin again.
Also, don’t skip the Wekiva Island outpost, just downstream from the park boundary. It’s a privately owned eco-hub where you can rent paddleboards, sip drinks on the dock, and join a floating yoga class if you’re into that sort of thing. It’s part nature, part cocktail lounge, and entirely unique.
And here’s the kicker: for all its natural beauty, Wekiwa Springs is just 30 minutes from downtown Orlando. You could ride Space Mountain in the morning and swim with gar in the afternoon. But here, under the oaks, in the cool springwater, the only thing spinning is time itself.
Wekiwa doesn’t ask for attention. It doesn’t perform. It just flows—quiet, ancient, and clear. It’s the kind of place that feels like a secret, even when the parking lot is full. And once you’ve floated in its waters, once you’ve paddled past its herons and cypress shadows, it gets under your skin in the best way.